Ukraine will receive eight SAMP/T medium-range air defense systems from France under a new bilateral agreement, according to a report by Militarnyi.
The transferred systems will feature updated and enhanced performance characteristics, including the integration of new-generation Aster missiles.
Each system will include six launchers, bringing the total number of launchers pledged to Ukraine to 48.
The SAMP/T system, already in service with the French Air and Space Force and the Italian Army, is designed to intercept a broad range of aerial threats including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. It provides medium-range coverage and can operate as part of a multi-layered defense architecture.
The latest missile variant associated with the system is the Aster 30 Block 1 NT, which is capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic threats. French and Italian defense officials previously conducted a successful test launch of the new missile, demonstrating its ability to engage high-speed targets.
According to the report, “The new missile can destroy targets at altitudes up to 25,000 meters and within a radius of 150 kilometers, and it is effective against targets flying at speeds over Mach 5.”
The enhanced Aster 30 B1NT is set to be integrated into the upgraded SAMP/T NG system and adapted for use in naval air defense platforms, which are also undergoing modernization.
For Ukraine, the delivery of SAMP/T systems comes amid continued efforts to strengthen its multi-tiered air defense network against Russian missile and drone attacks. The systems are expected to provide medium-altitude coverage over key infrastructure and urban areas, complementing shorter-range interceptors and longer-range Western systems already in use.
The SAMP/T battery is built around an Arabel multifunction radar, a vertical launch module, and a command and coordination post. It can be configured to defend mobile formations or fixed sites, and its open architecture allows for rapid integration with NATO command and control systems.
The transfer of these systems marks one of the largest known European contributions of high-end air defense assets to Ukraine.
